Chapter 5 – The Exorcism Expo
The rabbit opened its mouth and—unnervingly—grinned like a human.
Gideon stayed near the ladder, ready to retreat at any moment. But after observing for a while, he realized something odd: aside from the unsettling smile, the rabbit didn't emanate any evil presence.
In fact, its behavior had changed.
Earlier, it had violently resisted the holy water. Now it seemed to be enjoying itself, swimming calmly in the pool and even occasionally diving under the surface.
Seeing that the rabbit wasn't showing any aggression, Gideon took out a notebook.
An hour later, he had compiled detailed notes on its behavior. His preliminary conclusion: the personality-altering side effect of the Smiling Mask posed no direct danger. He carefully removed the mask and decided to leave the rabbit in the basement for overnight observation.
If everything was still normal by morning, he would consider the item safe.
He fed the rabbit, provided water, and reinforced the room with several additional layers of holy protections.
Only then did Gideon leave the cellar.
What he didn't know was that due to his relentless dedication to Scripture practice, his little church was now blessed with layers of divine light—comparable even to larger diocesan churches.
Add in his extensive fail-safes, and most evil spirits couldn't even survive here.
Still, Gideon never let his guard down when entering the basement.
Because after reviewing too many horror clips over the years, he knew—the basement is always where it goes wrong.
---
Back upstairs, he changed clothes, did a full check of the chapel, and finally returned to his room.
There, he got on the floor and pulled out a box from under the bed.
Inside: cash.
After counting the bills, he saw that including the last exorcism case with Jarrell, he now had $1,208.
But in one week, he'd owe the Archdiocese $1,500.
And that wasn't even accounting for the daily upkeep of the chapel.
At this rate, his funds would be wiped out in less than seven days.
Gideon frowned. He refused to become a penniless priest.
Then he remembered something—he pulled out the flyer he'd received earlier.
"Spirits, Scriptures, and Silver Swords—what's the ultimate exorcism tool? Come find out at the 13th Street Exorcism Expo! We're expecting you!"
On the back was a full address. The venue wasn't far. And the event? Tomorrow.
Gideon's eyes lit up.
"If I bring some sacred artifacts to sell…"
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The Next Morning
Gideon made a quick trip to the basement. The rabbit was alive and well—no odd behavior, no signs of possession, and a fresh pile of droppings beside it.
Satisfied, he carried the bunny out. He planned to give it away during his next community visit.
Keeping living creatures nearby was always risky—if one got possessed, it would be a disaster. He wouldn't take that chance.
Back in the main hall, he turned to his daily obligations before heading to the expo.
Every day, Gideon completed two key routines:
[Scripture Reading] – deepening his understanding of divine texts.
[Holy Water Purification] – which allowed him to better perceive demonic entities.
As he practiced these rituals, he noticed real change. His exorcism chants were growing more powerful. And each rinse made the spirits he encountered clearer and more distinct.
He had researched this once—such clarity of vision was typically only granted to bishops with immense spiritual force.
Two other skills—[Psychological Counseling] and [Holy Water Blessings]—could only be leveled up through fieldwork.
[Holy Water Purification +1]
Current Progress: Tier 1 (265/1000)
[Scripture Reading +1]
Current Progress: Tier 0 (99/100)
As the glowing messages faded from view, Gideon wrapped up his daily disciplines.
"Almost maxed out Scripture Reading. Wonder what the next reward will be…"
He couldn't help but feel hopeful. Another layer of protection meant better odds of survival.
In this world, people could be divided into three categories based on supernatural ability:
Type One – Ordinary People
No special abilities. Might survive a low-tier spirit if they're lucky or armed, but usually at great cost.
Type Two – Gifted Individuals
They possess unique talents—like mediumship or knowledge of arcane rites. Capable of handling lesser spirits, but crumble quickly when facing high-ranking demons or entities from deeper realms.
Type Three – Trained Experts
An extension of Type Two. These individuals have undergone systematic training, can control their powers precisely, and boast much higher survivability.
Examples? Vatican Cardinals.
Gideon barely qualified as a Type Three.
But the spectrum within that category was wide. And he still had a long way to go.
Of course, those with real power—Types Two and Three—were few and far between. The vast majority of people were just ordinary, powerless civilians.
After a short rest, Gideon began preparing items for the expo.
His plan? Sell protective gear—charms, amulets, and other low-key blessed items.
They were perfect for everyday people: effective in a crisis, yet discreet enough not to raise suspicion. And if anyone asked, he could just brush it off with a smile:
"The Lord's grace is with you."
To stock up, he pulled out a full year's worth of holy water and began a blessing ritual before the statue of Saint Michael.
[Holy Water Blessing +1]
Current Progress: Tier 0 (33/100)
As the divine energy infused the water, he got to work crafting crosses and protective amulets.
While he could bless each item multiple times, progress toward leveling only counted once per item type.
Once everything was packed and ready, Gideon locked up and set out.
---
South District – Art Quarter
This neighborhood was known for its bold murals and vibrant culture. Street walls were plastered with expressive graffiti, and the sidewalks were lined with trendy outdoor bars—though most were closed at this hour.
Gideon arrived at the address listed on the flyer: a red-brick building that had clearly seen some years.
It was nestled close to a residential zone, and the streets around it bustled with foot traffic.
The expo wouldn't begin until the afternoon—but Gideon had arrived early for a reason: to scout escape routes.
Because in a place like this? You never knew.
What if a demon decided to crash the party? Or worse—the organizers lost their minds and decided to summon one live?
That's just another Tuesday in American horror stories.
Better safe than sorry.
He circled the building. It had six exits—but only one was unlocked.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Even if no demons showed up, fire hazards were no joke.
Gideon pulled out his toolkit and, making sure no one was watching, cut through the locks on the other exits—just enough to allow for a quick escape.
Now he had at least five exit strategies.
If nothing went wrong, he could just buy some new locks after the event and make things right.
Next, he took out a set of Demon-Repelling Bells and carefully arranged them around the perimeter, forming a hidden Containment Formation.
If any dark energy entered the area, he'd know instantly.
He also stashed extra supplies—vials of holy water, small crucifixes—under flowerpots and beneath tables throughout the venue.
Anywhere he might walk, he'd be ready to fight back.
"Whew..."
Gideon wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Now all that was left was to wait.
---
Meanwhile, across town, two women were also arriving early.
"Laura... are you sure there'll be an exorcist here?"
A brown-haired woman pulled off her sunglasses, revealing a travel-worn face.
"Don't worry, Renai! I heard some real sorcerers will be attending this time. Someone will definitely be able to help wake up your son!"
Her companion was practically buzzing with excitement.
"I hope you're right..." Renai muttered, eyes full of worry.
She was a housewife from Kentucky. A year ago, strange things began happening in her home.
The radio would randomly speak in an unfamiliar man's voice.
Her youngest daughter would cry for no reason.
At night, they'd hear footsteps—when no one was there.
All of it had driven Renai to the brink.
Fearing for her children, she moved to a new house.
But the phenomena didn't stop.
Three months ago, her eldest son Dalton passed out after a terrifying episode—and never woke up.
Doctors were baffled. The hospital even recommended palliative care.
But Renai was convinced—something supernatural was tormenting them.
Her husband didn't believe her. No one did.
That's when her friend Laura mentioned an Exorcism Expo taking place in Philadelphia.
So she packed her bags, traveled across states, and came here to seek help from a real professional.
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As the afternoon approached, more and more people began gathering outside the old red-brick building.
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